Winter experiment.

[hippywife]

We're in OK so even though it can get cold here, it's usually not too terribly awful most of the time. So we're going to experiment with growing lettuces and spinach in our boxes with glass covers that are actually old salvaged shower doors. Husband planted this morning along with planting some garlic.

Already had everything so thought we'd give it a whirl and see if it could be done, growing rather than just protecting and harvesting. We'll see how it goes.

:hi:

[Vinca]

1. We must have the same disease. Part of our house in NH

is chilly/freezing cold during the winter months and I've got some lettuce growing in boxes under grow lights. It's kind of scrawny, but it's fresh! I just mentioned to my husband that we should construct cold frames to extend the spinach season outdoors. Here we are nearly December and no snow and not terribly cold . . . who would have thought?

[PuraVidaDreamin]

2. good luck

We are trying our hand at 4 season growing for the first time. We have a large greenhouse,
but are low on funds- so we found bunches of discarded windows and sliders to finally close it in.
Hoping to find some more cash to purchase 50 gal. dark rain barrels to fill w/ water for passive
solar heating. We are also going to plant smaller hoops tunnels within the greenhouse for
more additional passive heating. It's gonna be an interesting experiment here on Cape Cod.

So far we've got carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, turnips, arugula, lettuce, basil, dill, spinach.
We are still harvesting peppers, and cherry tomatoes and it's almost December! Freaking Amazing!

Good Luck! It's so much fun isn't it?

[WhiteTara]

4. paint some old steel barrels black

works great. I found some in my area (craigs list) for 6 bucks each.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

8. good idea

but we need to have some H20 to use for watering also, as the hose travels above ground from the outside
pump and will freeze- So we were thinking plastic rain barrels to hold the water. A mix of the two might
be just what we need!


:toast:

[beac]

3. I'll be interested to hear how you do. The spinach and lettuce that I planted

in September are both going strong and have survived several frosts and a freeze too.

[bvar22]

5. Hi Dear Friend!

How are the cold frames working out?
We meant to do that, but got distracted with something else.

I DID have a Tomato (creole) growing in a little Green House I built around the plant and heated with a light bulb, but the bulb burned out one night, and the whole thing froze. :(

We are hunkered down waiting for the return of a new growing season.

Is it just us?...or is this Winter grayer, damper, colder, darker, and longer than usual?
We are having trouble generating enthusiasm for doing anything.

[hippywife]

7. Didn't work out so well.

They got to the initial two-leaf stage and then we got freezing rain and all kinds of cold weather so...

Probably better to do it this way come spring when the threat of snow and sleet are gone.

You aren't alone, sweetie. We're having the same problem. It's all I can do some days to get the minimum chores done, let alone anything else.

Hold tight for another coupla months. We'll get there. :hug:

[Kolesar]

6. I picked lettuce today that I sowed in mid-August

It is growing in a cold frame. It survived nighttime temperatures in the teens with "sunless" cloudy Cleveland days. A few of the plants had wilted and died.

[Atticus]

9. One gallon plastic milk jugs can help plants make it through cool nights.

Paint them black, fill with water and leave in any direct sunlight. They absorb and retain the sun's warmth and, placed inside cold-frame in the evening, radiate enough gentle warmth to "take the chill off".